RCSD workers to get incentives to live in city

Employees of the Rochester City School District will soon find it pays to live within city limits.

The city of Rochester has announced a partnership with the district to institute a residency incentive program, one that comes after months of planning and negotiations. Under the agreement, the city will add RCSD to its list of participating employers in the city's Employer Assisted Housing Initiative, which provides grants to encourage employees to buy homes in city limits.

The district will provide up to 10 grants of $3,000 for its employees to use toward a down payment or closing costs. Employees purchasing their first home are eligible for an additional $3,000 grant from the city.

"This program provides tremendous value to the city, employers and employees by extending benefits that allow employees even greater opportunities to live and work in the city," said Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards. "This incentive is a great example of how both public and private enterprises can work together to make meaningful differences in people's lives with a relatively small investment.

"Even better is the idea that the teachers and other employees of the Rochester City School District can further share in the same community experiences as their student body, creating a deeper bond and a shared desire to see the city grow and succeed."